Biography

The product of an undistinguished sire out of an obscure mare, John Henry was an undersized gelding who lacked ideal conformation. Sold for only $1,100 at Keeneland in January of 1976, John Henry outran his pedigree in an astonishing career that resulted in him becoming one of the most accomplished and popular racehorses of the 20th century with career earnings of $6,951,860, which set an all-time record.

Bred by Golden Chance Farm in Kentucky, John Henry was a son of Ole Bob Bowers out of the Double Jay mare Once Double. John Henry had a series of trainers until finding his greatest success with Hall of Famer Ron McAnally. He made his living early in his career with workmanlike efforts in minor stakes, allowance races, and mid-level claiming races.

In 1978, New York City businessman Sam Rubin paid $25,000 for John Henry and campaigned him in the name of Dotsam Stable. In the care of trainer Robert Donato, John Henry compiled a record of 6-2-3 from 19 starts with earnings of $120,319 as a 3-year-old that year. The following year, John Henry was trained by Lefty Nickerson. In 11 starts as a 4-year-old, John Henry posted a record of 4-5-0 and earned $129,864.

When the grass season was over in New York, Rubin decided to send the horse to California. Nickerson suggested his good friend McAnally as trainer. Under McAnally, John Henry won six stakes races in a row in 1980, including Grade 1 wins in the San Luis Rey, San Juan Capistrano, and Hollywood Invitational. John Henry won the first of four Eclipse Awards for Champion Turf Horse in 1980 (he also won the award in 1981, 1983, and 1984) when he finished 8-3-1 from 12 starts and earned $925,217.

John Henry was even better in 1981, winning Horse of the Year honors. For the second year, he won the San Luis Rey, Hollywood Invitational and Oak Tree Invitational, along with victories in the Santa Anita Handicap, Sword Dancer, the inaugural Arlington Million, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. John Henry concluded his 6-year-old season with a record of 8-0-0 from 10 starts and earnings of $1,798,030. Along with being named Horse of the Year and Champion Turf Horse, John Henry was also named Champion Older Male.

In 1982, John Henry repeated in the Santa Anita Handicap (via disqualification) and won the Oak Tree Invitational for the third consecutive year. The following year, he became the first horse to surpass $4 million in earnings with his victory in the Hollywood Turf Cup.

John Henry was as good as ever as a 9-year-old in 1984 when he was named Horse of the Year for the second time. He won his second Arlington Million, as well as the Golden Gate Handicap, Sunset Handicap, and Ballantine Handicap. With more than $2.3 million in earnings in 1984, John Henry had the highest career total in history with $6,951,860. An injury forced him to miss the inaugural Breeders’ Cup and led to his eventual retirement with a career record of 39-15-9 from 83 starts. He won a total of seven Eclipse Awards and had victories at 13 different racetracks.

Following his racing career, John Henry lived at the Kentucky Horse Park, where he died at the age of 32 in 2007.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion Turf Horse — 1980
Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1981
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1981
Eclipse Award Champion Turf Horse —1981
Eclipse Award Champion Turf Horse — 1983
Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1984
Eclipse Award Champion Turf Horse — 1984
 

Biography

French-bred filly All Along won four major races in the span of 41 days during 1983 en route to becoming the first foreign-based horse to be voted Horse of the Year in the United States.

Bred and campaigned by art dealer Daniel Wildenstein and trained by Patrick Biancone, All Along won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in France, the Rothmans International Stakes at Woodbine in Canada, the Turf Classic at Aqueduct in New York, and the Washington, D.C. International at Laurel Park in Maryland in the fall of 1983 as a 4-year-old.

At age 5 in 1984, All Along finished third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and second in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf. At the time of her retirement following her 1984 campaign, All Along was the all-time leading distaffer in terms of career purse earnings with $3,015,764.

All Along was retired to Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky. From 13 foals, All Along produced 11 starters and four winners. Her lone stakes winner was Group 2 winner Along All, by Mill Reef. All Along died at Three Chimneys at the age of 26 in 2005. 

Achievements

Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1983
Eclipse Award Champion Turf Mare — 1983

Biography

Undefeated as a 2-year-old, Bimelech won the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in 1940 and went on to enjoy a successful career as a stallion.

Bred at Idle Hour Stock Farm by owner Col. Edward R. Bradley, Bimelech was the final colt sired by the notable stallion Black Toney. Bimelech was out of the great mare La Troienne and was a full brother to the outstanding filly Black Helen.

Bimelech broke his maiden in his career debut at Suffolk Downs in 1939 and added an allowance victory at Empire City before winning four consecutive stakes to stamp himself as the top 2-year-old colt of his class. He won the Saratoga Special, Hopeful Stakes, Belmont Futurity, and Pimlico Futurity to complete an undefeated juvenile campaign.

As a 3-year-old, Bimelech extended his win streak to eight with victories in the Blue Grass Stakes and Derby Trial leading up to the 1940 Kentucky Derby. Bimelech, however, finished 1½ lengths behind 35-1 longshot Gallahadion in one of the biggest Kentucky Derby upsets.

Bimelech rebounded to win the Preakness Stakes, defeating Gallahadion in the process. He added a victory in the Belmont Stakes before a foot injury ended his campaign.

As a 4-year-old, Bimelech raced twice, winning once, and suffered his only off-the-board performance of his career. He did not deal well with loading into the new starting gates, prompting Bradley to retire him.

Bimelech finished his career with a record of 11-2-1 from 15 starts and earnings of $248,745. He went on to sire 30 stakes winners and was the broodmare sire of 50 stakes winners. Bimelech died in 1966 at the age of 29 at Greentree Stud near Lexington, Kentucky.

Achievements

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Preakness Stakes — 1940
Won the Belmont Stakes — 1940

Biography

Bred and campaigned by Calumet Farm and trained by Hall of Famer John Veitch, Alydar won 11 stakes races in his career and finished second to Affirmed in each of the Triple Crown races in 1978.

As a 2-year-old in 1977, Alydar defeated Affirmed in the Great American Stakes and Champagne Stakes, but Affirmed got the better of him four other occasions that year, including the Hopeful Stakes, Belmont Futurity Stakes and Laurel Futurity Stakes.

Alydar won three Grade 1 races — the Flamingo Stakes, Florida Derby, and Blue Grass Stakes — as a 3-year-old prior to the 1978 Kentucky Derby, for which he was a slight favorite over Affirmed. Alydar, however, was defeated by his rival by 1½ lengths in the Derby. Alydar was then second to Affirmed by a neck in the Preakness Stakes and lost to him by a head in the Belmont Stakes.

After the narrow defeats in the Triple Crown events, Alydar crushed the field by 13 lengths in the Arlington Classic, defeated older horses by 10 lengths in the Whitney Handicap, and won the Travers Stakes when Affirmed was disqualified. Alydar finished his sophomore campaign with a record of 7-3-0 from 10 starts and earnings of $565,071.

As a 4-year-old in 1979, Alydar won an allowance at Hialeah Park and the Nassau County Handicap at Belmont Park. He was retired with a career record of 14-9-1 from 26 starts and earnings of $957,195 after finishing third in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont.

Alydar stood at stud at Calumet Farm, where he sired Hall of Fame members Alysheba and Easy Goer, as well as standouts Turkoman, Strike the Gold, and Criminal Type. Alydar died in 1990. 

Biography

A winner of 18 stakes races, Affectionately was a dark bay daughter of Swaps out of the War Admiral mare Searching. Bred by the partnership of trainer Hirsch Jacobs and Isidor Bieber, Affectionately was foaled in 1960 at Dr. Charles Hagyard’s farm near Lexington, Kentucky.

Affectionately, who was campaigned by Ethel D. Jacobs, arrived at the races Jan. 17, 1962, at Santa Anita. She won the first six starts of her career, prompting Hirsch Jacobs to describe her as “the best horse I’ve ever trained.”

After suffering her first career loss in June 1962, Affectionately rebounded to win the Astoria, Sorority, and Spinaway, finishing her juvenile campaign with a record of 9-1-3 from 13 starts.

Affectionately raced exclusively in New York as a 3-year-old in 1963, winning the first of back-to-back editions of the Interborough Handicap. At 4, she won the Vosburgh and Sport Page handicaps against males and five added-money races. Concluding her season, Affectionately finished in a dead heat with Chop House in the Las Flores Handicap at Santa Anita.

In 1965, Affectionately became the first distaffer since 1910 to win the Toboggan Handicap, defeating Chieftain by five lengths. She also added an eight-length victory in the Top Flight Handicap and carried 137 pounds to win the Vagrancy Handicap.

Affectionately became only the second female — joining Hall of Famer Cicada — to surpass $500,000 in career earnings with a total of $546,660. She finished her career with a record of 28-8-6 from 52 starts.

Following her retirement, Affectionately was bred to Hail to Reason and produced Personality, who won the 1970 Preakness, Woodward, Wood Memorial, Jersey Derby, and Jim Dandy.

Affectionately died March 31, 1979, at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.

Achievements

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly (Turf and Sport Digest) — 1962
Champion Sprint Horse — 1965

Biography

As the legend goes, Al Hoots had a vision on his deathbed that his mare Useeit would be bred to Col. E. R. Bradley’s stallion Black Toney and the resulting foal would win the Kentucky Derby. Rosa Hoots, his widow, several years later bred the mare to Black Toney and, as her husband had predicted, Black Gold won the 1924 Kentucky Derby.

Useeit won 34 times in 122 career starts from 1909 through 1916, including a win over the great Pan Zareta. Hoots raced her at county fairs in Oklahoma until he learned of larger purses in Mexico. He took Useeit to the old track in Juarez and entered her in a claiming race, which was known as a “selling race” at the time. Useeit won the race and was claimed in the process. Hoots, ignorant of the rules of selling races, refused to surrender Useeit, protecting his ownership with a shotgun. Threatened again by the Juarez track officials, Hoots slipped out of town with his mare and was barred from racing south of the border.

After his death, Hoots’ widow, Rosa, convinced Bradley to let her breed Useeit to Black Toney. A short time later, oil was discovered on Mrs. Hoots’ property in Oklahoma and the widow became rich. When Useeit foaled her Black Toney colt at Bradley’s Idle Hour Stock Farm in February 1921, he was given the appropriate name of Black Gold.

Trained by Hanley Webb, Black Gold made his debut in Louisiana at Fair Grounds with a six-length victory in January 1923. He won his first stakes race, the Bashford Manor Stakes, that May at Churchill Downs and finished his juvenile season with a 9-5-2 from 18 starts and earnings of $19,163.

After winning the Louisiana Derby as a 3-year-old, Black Gold won the 50th running of the Kentucky Derby before a crowd estimated at 80,000 to fulfill the dream of Al Hoots. Black Gold became the first horse bred and owned by a woman to win the Derby. He added victories in the Ohio State Derby at Cleveland’s Maple Heights Park and the Chicago Derby at Hawthorne that year, finishing his 3-year-old campaign with a record of 9-0-2 from 13 starts and earnings of $91,340.

Black Gold was retired to stud in late 1924 because of unsoundness in his left foreleg. In his three seasons as a stallion, Black Gold produced only one foal, a colt that was killed in a lightning strike. After almost three years away from the races, Black Gold was put back in training late in 1927. He was winless in three starts that December and was reportedly lame.

In January 1928, Black Gold was entered in the Salome Handicap at Fair Grounds. He began to make a move entering the stretch, but tragically broke his troublesome left foreleg. Despite the efforts of his rider to pull him up, Black Gold fought on and finished the race. The injury was fatal and Black Gold was buried in the track’s infield.

In 35 lifetime starts, Black Gold compiled a record of 18-5-4 with earnings of $110,553. The Black Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds is named in his honor and it is tradition that winning jockey of the race places flowers on the horse’s grave in the infield.

Achievements

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Kentucky Derby — 1924

Biography

Prior to the emergence of Swaps in the 1950s, Emperor of Norfolk was unquestionably the best racehorse to ever come out of California.

Bred by Theodore Winters at El Arroyo Stud, Emperor of Norfolk was by Lexington’s undefeated son, Norfolk, out of Marian, the eventual producer of nine stakes winners.

Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin purchased Emperor of Norfolk for $2,550. Baldwin made a reported $5 million in mining investments and another $10 million when a major supply of gold was found in one of his mines, hence the nickname. Baldwin also got lucky with Emperor of Norfolk.

Baldwin, one of the first California-based owners to have notable success shipping horses east, sent Emperor of Norfolk to Chicago for his career debut July 2, 1887. In a week’s time, Emperor of Norfolk won three stakes races: the Kenwood Stakes, Hyde Park Stakes, and Lake View Handicap.

Shipped to Saratoga, Emperor of Norfolk won four stakes in two weeks: the Saratoga, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. With seven victories from eight starts, Emperor of Norfolk was firmly established as the top 2-year-old in the land before he inexplicably finished eighth in the Select Stakes at Monmouth.

Ten days after his disappointment at Monmouth, Emperor of Norfolk rebounded and earned his biggest purse of the season, $6,800 in the Autumn Stakes at Sheepshead Bay. He also won the Algeria Stakes and Citizens Stakes that year to finish with a record of 12-1-3 from 18 starts and earnings of $36,490 before heading back to California to rest for the winter.

As good as he was at 2, Emperor of Norfolk was even better as a 3-year-old in 1888. As a sophomore, Emperor of Norfolk won the Brooklyn Derby, Bronx Stakes, Spuyten-Duyvel Stakes, Swift Stakes, American Derby, Drexel Stakes, and Sheridan Stakes.

Riding an eight-race win streak and with an overall record of 21-2-4 and earnings of $72,400, Emperor of Norfolk was retired in the middle of his 3-year-old campaign because of a bowed tendon.

Sent to Baldwin’s Rancho Santa Anita in California, Emperor of Norfolk sired several stakes winners, including Lady Diamond, Estaca, Berardello, Celoso, Magdelenas, Cruzados, Americano, and Rey del Carreres.

Emperor of Norfolk died Dec. 15, 1907, at the age of 22. The San Francisco Call reported: “Emperor of Norfolk, winner of the American Derby and one of the greatest race horses and sires in the history of the American Turf, died of old age this mornings at Lucky Baldwin’s Santa Anita ranch. The closing hours of the famous stallion’s life presented a unique spectacle. When word was sent out that the Emperor was dying, racing men who are at Santa Anita track gathered in numbers at the Baldwin stable, and the grand old horse passed away like a king surrounded by his court.”

Achievements

Co-Champion 2-Year-Old Male — 1887
Co-Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1888

Biography

Chris Evert was bred in Kentucky by Echo Valley Farm and purchased by Carl Rosen, owner of the clothing manufacturer Puritan Fashions Corp. Rosen named the daughter of Swoon’s Son after the emerging tennis star he had recently signed to endorse his company’s line of sportswear.

As a 2-year-old in 1973, Chris Evert won the Demoiselle and Golden Rod stakes and finished with a record of 4-1-0 and earnings of $93,012 from five starts.

Chris Evert won the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in 1974, when she swept the New York Filly Triple Crown, winning a division of the Acorn before adding victories in the Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks. She also won a $350,000 winner-take-all match race vs. Miss Musket by 50 lengths that year at Hollywood Park and finished second in the Alabama and third in the Travers. Chris Evert finished her 3-year-old season 5-1-2 with earnings of $551,063 from eight starts.

As a 4-year-old, Chris Evert started twice, winning the La Canada Stakes, before being retired with a career record of 10-2-2 and earnings of $679,475 from 15 starts.

As a broodmare, Chris Evert produced grades stakes winners Wimbledon Star and the filly Six Crowns, who was sired by Secretariat. Chris Evert was pensioned in 1990 and died in 2001 at the age of 30. She was buried at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, 1974

Biography

A record-priced yearling at auction, Majestic Prince became the first horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes while undefeated. 

Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm’s Leslie Combs II, Majestic Price was purchased for $250,000 by Canadian oilman Frank McMahon at the 1967 Keeneland July yearling sale and sent to trainer Johnny Longden, formerly one of America’s most accomplished jockeys.

After winning both of his starts as a 2-year-old in 1968 in California, Majestic Prince strung together five consecutive victories to begin his 3-year-old campaign prior to contesting the Kentucky Derby. His wins included the Los Feliz Stakes, San Vicente Stakes, San Jacinto Stakes, and the Santa Anita Derby.

Installed as the 7-5 favorite for the 1969 Kentucky Derby, Majestic Prince did not disappoint. A week prior to the Derby, Majestic Prince won the seven-furlong Stepping Stone purse at Churchill by six lengths in 1:21⅗, one-fifth of a second off the track record. In the Derby, Arts and Letters, with Braulio Baeza up, had a half-length lead on Majestic Prince and Bill Hartack through a mile. At the eighth pole, however, Majestic Prince stuck his head in front and went on to win by a neck over Arts and Letters with Dike finishing third.

In the Preakness, Majestic Prince, favored at 3-5, held off Arts and Letters again to win by a head. Arts and Letters, however, was finally able to turn the tide on Majestic Prince in the Belmont, winning by 5½ lengths to spoil the Triple Crown bid and hand Majestic Prince his first and only defeat.

Majestic Prince returned to California following the Belmont and was given some time off to recover from a minor injury. A knot appeared behind one of his knees during the winter and he was retired with a record of 9-1-0 from 10 starts and earnings of $414,200. He was syndicated for $60,000 a share and entered stud at Spendthrift.

As a stallion, Majestic Prince sired 33 stakes winners, including 1979 Belmont winner Coastal and the successful sire Majestic Light. He also sired the dams of 77 stakes winners.

Majestic Prince died at the age of 15 on April 22, 1981.

Achievements

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Kentucky Derby — 1969
Won the Preakness Stakes — 1969

Biography

Gallant Man was one of the leaders of the outstanding crop of 3-year-olds of 1957 along with Bold Ruler, Round Table, and Iron Liege. Bred in England by His Highness The Aga Khan III and Prince Aly Khan, Gallant Man was named for a horse in a Don Ameche movie.

Owned by Ralph Lowe and trained by Hall of Famer John Nerud, Gallant Man won three of seven starts as a 2-year-old in 1956 before blossoming during his sophomore campaign. After losing the 1957 Kentucky Derby when jockey Bill Shoemaker infamously misjudged the finish line, Gallant Man came back to win the Belmont Stakes by eight lengths over favored Bold Ruler. Gallant Man set an American record of 2:26⅗ for 1½ miles in the Belmont. The Belmont record stood until Secretariat bested the mark 16 years later.

As a 3-year-old, Gallant Man also won the Travers Stakes, Peter Pan Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Nassau County Handicap, and Hibiscus Stakes. He set a 1⅛-mile track record at Saratoga in the Travers and posted an overall mark of 8-4-0 from 14 starts and earnings of $298,280 as a 3-year-old.

Returning as a 4-year-old in 1958, Gallant Man added victories in the Hollywood Gold Cup, Sunset Handicap, and Metropolitan Mile. Gallant Man was retired with a career record of 14-4-1 from 26 starts and earnings of $510,355. He won at distances from six furlongs to two miles.

Gallant Man had an influential stallion career at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky. He sired 52 stakes winners and was the broodmare sire of Hall of Famers Gallant Bloom and Genuine Risk. Gallant Man was pensioned from stallion duty in 1981 and died at the age of 34 in 1988. 

Achievements

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Belmont Stakes — 1957